Did I miss anything?

[sblanch]

Due to the lack of available quality ammo nearby and the cost of mail order match grade ammo I've decided to reload for my 308.

I have never reloaded a metallic cartridge but decided I'll never get out shooting enough if I don't so I have bought the following used equipment

Lyman 49th edition reloading handbook
Hornady LNL single stage press w/two bushings
Hornady LNL powder measure
Hornady beam type scale model unknown
RCBS case trimmer w/9 pilots
RCBS case lube kit
2 case blocks

I am trying to get a list together of everything else I need. It looks like this:

Case tumbler
primer pocket cleaning/deburring/uniforming tools
case neck deburring/chamfer tool
case neck brush
hand priming tool
308 dies
Shell holder

I was hoping someone could point out things I've overlooked or listed but don't need right away or suggest good choices or kits for the remaining components.

I intend to load match grade target ammo for a savage 308 w/26" 1 in 10 factory barrel.

I have some brass fired from my rifle and intend to puchase once fired also.

From my reading here and other places I'm leaning towards minimal FL sizing all my brass or body sizing/shoulder bumping then neck sizing with a Lee collet die. Will a Lee Deluxe Die Set give me these options?

Any advice and/or criticizims are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks


?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Did I miss anything?

some good reading here

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=96660#Post96660

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=338094#Post338094

I dont believe the lee collet comes in the deluxe set, I beleive it is in its own set that will include a seating die.

There are many ways to do this but the set up I use is a lee collet neck die, redding body bump die and redding competition seater on fully preped brass per the above posts.

 

[Goldbeachman]

Re: Did I miss anything?

Get some One Shot spray lube instead. Dies: Redding good (particularly bushing type), Lee....bad. Have fun, go slow. Good luck.

 

[sblanch]

Re: Did I miss anything?

thanks niles

I've read Docs post several times and it helped a lot. I know the FL vs neck sizing debate has been beat to death I'm trying to figure out if the Lee set will give me the option to effectively try both and decide on my own.

The more I read about reloading the more complicated it seems to get. It looks like one of those things you have to do to really understand.

A good kit for the case prep tools is of particular interest to me.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Did I miss anything?

Imperial sizing wax for me.

 

[sblanch]

Re: Did I miss anything?

My main reason for considering the Lee dies was the collet neck sizing die.

In reading about bushing dies vs the collet it seems like collet is more forgiving of different neck thickness and eliminates the problems involved in pulling the expander ball through the neck.

Does anyone else make a collet type die?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Did I miss anything?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5x5GUY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thanks niles

A good kit for the case prep tools is of particular interest to me. </div></div>

I use a sinclair vld reamer on the neck, a rcbs flash hole reamer, sinclair primer pock uniformer, sinclair/wilson trimer.

Reloading isn’t complicated; you just need to decide how far you are willing to go. There can be a lot of things or steps if you are willing to put in the time. However, I would not neck turn, weight brass, bullets etc if you are using a factory gun or even a custom gun unless you are chasing .0 groups

The collet die with the redding body die and comp seater gives me very low runout. I have thought about trying a redding bushing die but just cant justify the purchase yet with the results Im seeing.

also, Handloading For Competition By: Glen D. Zediker, IMHO is worth the read. His style of writing is a little different but its well worth it...

 

[sblanch]

Re: Did I miss anything?

Will a small screwdriver/pick serve as primer pocket/flashole prep tool until I get my feet wet and can decide what I really need/want. I assume that deburring the case mouth is a must.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Did I miss anything?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5x5GUY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Will a small screwdriver/pick serve as primer pocket/flashole prep tool until I get my feet wet and can decide what I really need/want. I assume that deburring the case mouth is a must. </div></div>

Not really, but it clean some of the carbon off. I would just forgo getting those until you decide you want to try them, or use Lapua brass. I shot for years before doing anything but triming and deburring remington and winchester brass and had good results/groups.

 

[sblanch]

Re: Did I miss anything?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The collet die with the redding body die and comp seater gives me very low runout. I have thought about trying a redding bushing die but just cant justify the purchase yet with the results Im seeing.

also, Handloading For Competition By: Glen D. Zediker, IMHO is worth the read. His style of writing is a little different but its well worth it... </div></div>

I'll check into the book and a few others I've seen mentioned

I've read good things about the combo of dies you are using. Would a person with no experience find it any more difficult to start out with a similar setup than with FL sizing?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Did I miss anything?

Yes and no. It just adds a other step if you use body bump on each loading, but you don’t have to until you have fired the case 2-3 times or are shooting the ammo in more than one rifle, which is my case.

There is nothing wrong with using a full length sizing die either when it is setup properly, I just don’t use one.

When I first started loading I bought a complete Lyman kit, press, scale, trimmer, lube pad (which I never used). And a standard set of lee or Lyman dies. That worked fine for years until I started studying what others were using... Then I started getting anal about every thing. Its cost a lot of money and time, the return has been a better understanding and maybe about 1/4" better loads at 100 yards. But that 1/4" may just be from more trigger time... LOL

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Did I miss anything?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 5x5GUY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Will a small screwdriver/pick serve as primer pocket/flashole prep tool until I get my feet wet and can decide what I really need/want? I assume that deburring the case mouth is a must. </div></div>
Yep & yep. A drill bit can cut the burr from the flash hole.

Try the combo of the Lee collet die, Redding body die and Forster seater. If you're feeding ammo from a magazine, you don't need a micrometer.

Dial caliper.

Imperial is the preferred case lube.